Paleontologist Richard Fortey once described Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii) as “the most solitary organism in the world.” This rare plant, hailing from South Africa, is a member of the cycad family—robust plants with thick trunks and large, stiff leaves that form majestic crowns. Cycads, which have survived dinosaurs and multiple mass extinctions, are now among the most threatened species on Earth.
Discovery and cultivation
The only known wild E. woodii was discovered in 1895 by botanist John Medley Wood during a botanical expedition in the Ngoye Forest, South Africa. Despite extensive searches, no other specimens were found. Over the next few decades, botanists removed stems and offshoots to cultivate them in gardens worldwide.
The complexity of plant life
Often perceived as simple organisms, plants are essential for clean air and far more complex than many realize. Recent advances in research reveal that plants are more similar to us than previously thought, offering a fascinating area of study that challenges traditional views.
Preservation efforts
In 1916, fearing the destruction of the final stem, the Forestry Department removed it from the wild and placed it in a protective enclosure in Pretoria, South Africa, rendering E. woodii extinct in its natural habitat. While the plant has been propagated globally, all existing specimens are clones of the original Ngoye specimen and are male. Without a female counterpart, natural reproduction remains impossible, placing E. woodii in a dire existential crisis.
A story of survival and solitude
The tale of E. woodii is one of remarkable endurance and profound isolation. Scientists are now on a mission to find or create a female partner for this unique plant, hoping to secure its future and end its solitary existence.